‘He’s going to need all the help he can get now David’s retiring,’ I inadvertently said.

‘He’s got you, hasn’t he?’ Sue frowned.

‘Well, yes,’ I swallowed. ‘But you know what I mean. Maya’s proper help, isn’t she?’

I backed out of the door before she could answer.

‘I better go and give Bandit his lunch,’ I said. ‘I promised Ned I would as he’s so busy.’

I eagerly accepted Wren’s invitation to go to the pub on Saturday night and as she had already arranged to meet Abbie, I didn’t feel obliged to ask Ned. A girl’s night out, was just what I needed, even if it was only for a quiet drink in the local.

‘If you want to have a drink,’ Wren kindly offered, when I arrived, ‘you can leave your car in the village and I’ll drive you home. I’m sticking to Coke tonight.’

‘Whereas I look as though I need of shot a rum with mine, do I?’ I laughed.

‘No,’ said Wren.

‘Yes,’ said Abbie and we all laughed.

‘Thanks for the offer,’ I said to Wren, ‘but I’m not fussed.’

Given what had happened to Dad, I never touched a drop of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

‘So,’ I said, ‘where are Theo and Noah tonight? You mentioned they had plans, Abbie.’

‘They’re at a stag do in Norwich,’ she told me, rolling her eyes. ‘Noah’s brother is getting married and he insisted Noah went to the party. He’s taken his partner, Michael, with him, but as neither were keen, they roped Theo in on the assumption that he would have more experience.’

I didn’t know about his partner, but from what I knew of Noah I could guess that a stag night in the city wasn’t his cup of tea.

‘Which he hasn’t,’ Wren laughed. ‘But he’s tagged along to lend some moral support.’

‘It’s really not Noah’s sort of thing, is it?’ I asked.

‘Really, really not,’ said Abbie. ‘He and Michael have been dreading it for weeks.’

‘Bless them,’ I sympathised. ‘It’s not a good feeling getting cajoled into doing something you’d rather not, is it?’

I was thinking of David talking me into coming back to Wynmouth, but obviously couldn’t say as much.

‘I used to get roped into doing all sorts of crazy things at school,’ I said instead. ‘The sponsored Go Ape Treetop Challenge was the worst.’

‘Oh god,’ Wren shuddered. ‘I’m rubbish with heights.’

‘So am I!’ I told her. ‘That’s why it was the worst.’

They couldn’t help but giggle as I told them about how much fun the students had had at my terrified expense.

‘My legs were trembling for weeks,’ I finished up, which was no exaggeration.

‘You should set something like that up at Wynter’s,’ Abbie mused.